Man arrested after laser pen shone at pilots above Kent

This is what the inside of a cockpit looks like when a laser is shone at it (Picture: Twitter/MPSHeathrow)

A man has been arrested after a green laser pen was shone on pilots above Kent.

Reports that the nuisance light was distracting several commercial flights were called into police who searched for the man.

Shining a laser beam at planes or helicopters has been condemned by aviation experts for its risk to temporarily dazzle and disorientate pilots or cause long term eye damage and was made a criminal offence in 2010.

Several passenger flights travelling over the Isle of Sheppey were affected by the distracting laser at around 8pm on Saturday night before the man was arrested by Kent Police.